Case for a Flat Screen Television

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a case for a flat panel television that allows a purchaser to add a personal ergonomically designed aesthetic skin to the television. The case generally comprises a front body removably engaged with a rear body to provide an outside skin for the flat panel television. The front body comprises a front panel having a centrally disposed window, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall. The front body further comprises first and second lower fasteners extending outward from the left and right sidewalls. Engagement of the front body of the case with the rear body of the case provides an aesthetic skin to the flat panel television that can be freely changed by the purchaser. The front and rear body may take different colors, designs, and or themes which the purchaser may select. The case further comprises a remote control support removably attached to one of the sidewalls of the rear body. The case further comprises an accessory support removably attached to the rear panel of the rear body. The case may further comprise a slip cover if the flat panel television is used with a base stand. The cover is adapted to slip over and substantially cover the base stand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from co-pending provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/171,499 filed on Apr. 22, 2009, entitled “Case for a Flat Panel Television,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cases for televisions. Conventional cases have been designed mostly for protective purposes. Such conventional cases are not ergonomically designed for use with a flat panel television and have little aesthetic appeal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a case for a flat panel television that allows a purchaser to add a personal ergonomically designed aesthetic skin to the television. The case generally comprises a front body removably engaged with a rear body to provide an outside skin for the flat panel television. The front body comprises a front panel having a centrally disposed window, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall. The front body further comprises first and second lower fasteners extending outward from the left and right sidewalls. Engagement of the front body of the case with the rear body of the case provides an aesthetic skin to the flat panel television that can be freely changed by the purchaser. The front and rear body may take different colors, designs, and or themes which the purchaser may select. The case further comprises a remote control support removably attached to one of the sidewalls of the rear body. The case further comprises an accessory support removably attached to the rear panel of the rear body. The case may further comprise a slip cover if the flat panel television is used with a base stand. The cover is adapted to slip over and substantially cover the base stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention will be fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a case according to the present invention shown mounted about a flat panel television;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the case according to the present invention shown mounted about a flat panel television;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the case according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the remote control support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is a case 100 for a flat panel television 50 that allows a purchaser to add a personal ergonomically designed aesthetic skin to television 50. Case 100 generally comprises a front body 102 removably engaged with a rear body 130 to provide an outside skin for television 50.

Front body 102 generally comprises a front panel 103 having a centrally disposed opening or window 104, a bottom sidewall 106, a top sidewall 108, a left sidewall 110, and a right sidewall 112. Front body 102 further comprises first and second lower fasteners 114 and 118 extending outward from left and right sidewalls 110 and 112, respectively. Front body 102 further comprises first and second upper fasteners 122 and 126 extending outward from left and right sidewalls 110 and 112, respectively. In the embodiment shown, first and second lower fasteners 114 and 118 are flexible snap tabs 116 and 120. Similarly, first and second upper fasteners 122 and 126 are flexible snap tabs 124 and 128. Front body 102 further comprises an opening 127 that is aligned with the infra red sensor (not shown) of television 50 so that remote control 56 may be operated. Front body 102 further comprises an elastomeric cover or button 129 that is aligned with and covers an operational button such as a volume control button of television 50. Front body 102 may comprises a plurality of elastomeric buttons 120 corresponding to various operational buttons of television 50.

Rear body 130 generally comprises a rear panel 132, a top sidewall 150, a bottom sidewall 146, a left sidewall 154, and a right side wall 164. Bottom sidewall 146 has an inner portion 147 and an outer portion 149. Top sidewall 150 has an inner portion 151 and an outer portion 153. A plurality of vent openings are formed in inner portion 151 to allow cooling of television 50. Left sidewall 154 has an inner portion 155 and an outer portion 157. Right sidewall 164 has an inner portion 165 and an outer portion 167. Rear body 130 further comprises lower and upper mounting portions 156 and 160 formed within inner portion 155 of left sidewall 154. In the embodiment shown, mounting portions 156 and 160 are rectangular shaped cut-outs. Rear body 130 further comprises lower and upper mounting portions 166 and 170 formed within inner portion 165 of right sidewall 164. In the embodiment shown, mounting portions 166 and 170 are rectangular shaped cut-outs. Front body 102 is removably engaged with rear body 130. Specifically, and as best shown by FIG. 4, snap tabs 116 and 120 of front body 102 are removably engaged with lower mounting portions 156 and 166, respectively, of rear body 130. Similarly, snap tabs 124 and 18 of front body 102 are removably engaged with upper mounting portions 160 and 170, respectively, of rear body 130. Rear body 130 further comprises a remote control mounting portion 172 formed within outer portion 167 of right sidewall 164. Rear body 130 further comprises a remote control mounting portion 174 formed within inner portion 165 of right sidewall 164. In the embodiment shown, mounting portions 172 and 174 are each female t-shaped openings or cut-outs. As will be described more fully herein, mounting portions 172 and 175 are adapted to removably engage with a remote control support 178 (to be described). Rear panel 132 further comprises first and second cut-outs 134 and 136 to provide access to the electrical inputs and outputs connectors (not shown) of television 50. Rear panel 132 further comprises first and second lower mounting portions 138 and 40. In the embodiment shown, mounting portions 138 and 140 are cut-outs. Rear panel 132 further comprises first and second upper mounting portions 142 and 144. In the embodiment shown, mounting portions 138 and 140 are cut-outs. As will be described ore fully herein, mountings portions 138 and 140 and 142 and 144 are adapted to removably engage with an accessory support 200 (to be described). Rear body 130 further comprises a plurality of air vents 148 and 152 disposed along bottom and top sidewalls 146 and 150, respectively. Air vents 148 and 152 provide ventilation for television 50.

Remote control support 178 is removably engaged with left sidewall 164 of rear body 130. As best shown by FIG. 11, remote control support 178 generally comprises a cavity or recessed portion 180 formed by a base 182, and sidewalls 184 and 186. Remote control support 178 further comprises a first rib 188 extending along and outward from base 182 a first height. Remote control support 178 further comprises a second rib 190 extending along and outward from base 182 a second height. Remote control support 178 further comprises a first fastener 192 disposed at an upper portion of first rib 188. First fastener 192 is a male t-shaped key. Remote control support 178 further comprises a second fastener 194 disposed at a lower portion of second rib 190. Second fastener 194 is a male t-shaped key. First and second fasteners 192 and 194 are removably engaged with first and second mounting portions 172 and 174, respectively, of sidewall 164 of rear body 130.

Accessory support 200 is removably engaged with rear panel 132 of rear body 134. Accessory support 200 comprises a base 202, a left sidewall 204, a right sidewall 206, and a bottom wall 208. Accessory support 200 further comprises first and second lower fasteners 210 and 212 adapted to engage with mounting portions 138 and 140, respectively, of rear panel 132. In the embodiment shown, fasteners 210 and 212 are fixed tab or feet. Accessory support 200 further comprises first and second upper fasteners 214 and 216 adapted to engage with mounting portions 142 and 144, respectively, of rear panel 132. In the embodiment shown, fasteners 214 and 216 are each flexible snap tabs.

Case 100 may further comprise a slip cover 174 adapted to slip over base stand 54. Slip cover 174 has an access panel 176 to allow placement of slip cover 174 and to substantially enclose base stand 54.

Engagement of front body 102 with rear body 130 provides an aesthetic skin case 100 to television 50 that can be free changed by the purchaser. Front body 102 and rear body 130 may take different colors, designs, and or themes which the purchaser may select. Front body 102 and rear body 103 are made from a thin and durable plastic material to provide a skin fit over the existing plastic housing of television 50. Case 100 may come in a variety of colors, metallics, and textures. The plastic or composites that case 100 may be made from includes, but is not limited to: gold metallic; silver metallic; rose gold; nickel; platinum; transparent blue, green, red, purple, yellow; all primary colors; textures will include wood grains, mirror tiles, stone, limestone, suede; carbon fiber; patterns and prints licensed and original. Case 100 may be made of one or more of the following: plastic, elastic material, nylon, bubble protection material, layered material, soft material, synthetic material, shock absorbent material, hard material, solid material, liquid containing material, gas containing material, pressurized gas containing material, balloon type material, material, gel type material, PVC , acrylic plastics, synthetic fabrics and polymers, natural material, leather, water proof material, oil protected, metal links, surface, paper, cardboard, stretchable material, elastic band network, net shape material, magnetic material, metallic material, metallic chain, array of metallic rings, multi- dimensional structure, folded structure, hinges, hinged plates, hinged micro-plates, connected tiles, Lego shaped material, brick shaped material, ceramic tiles, stone tiles, artificial material tiles, glass tiles, transparent material, translucent material, reflective material, fluorescent material, metal plated material, chemical coolant, cooling metals, painted material, rug, woven material, bamboo, carpet material, wooden material, sticks, insulation material, water cooling jacket, air cooling jacket, heating element jacket, insulation jacket, or any similar, compound chemical, or composite material.

Although not shown, case 100 may comprise one or more flexible rubber buttons disposed about front body 102 or rear body 104 which the user can press to activate corresponding buttons of television 50. Case 100 may further include (in, attached to, or on it) one or more of the following items: a picture frame, clock, notebook, calculator, solar cell array, battery, pen holder, pen, pencil, magnetic plate, magnetic decoration, light, LED, LCD, display, small TV, small radio, thermometer, pressure gauge, biometric sensor, thumb/fingerprint recognition module, mirror, combination lock, lock, Velcro, hook and loop, password entry input, small keyboard, input device, pointing device, speaker, microphone, small telephone set, key chain ring, hook (for hanging the unit), solar panel, wood facade, small video game, music player, downloading unit (from Internet or satellite), wireless unit, communication unit, antenna, small computer, wireless internet antenna, computer CPU, GPS device, TCP/IP router, wireless router, digital recording device, LCD, digital weather display, wall mounting device, tripod, camera, digital internet camera, microphone, universal remote control, touch screen display, satellite TV CPU, Ipod dock, digital music player doc, LED lights, Sound sensitive lighting, small web browser, recorder, or any other electronic or mechanical device, apparatus, system, toy, decoration, or equipment.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising”, and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A case for a flat panel television comprising: a front body comprising a front panel having a centrally disposed window, bottom and top bottom sidewalls, left and right sidewalls; said front body further comprising first and second lower fasteners extending outward from said left and right sidewalls, respectively; said front body further comprising first and second upper fasteners extending outward from said left and right sidewall, respectively; a rear body comprising a rear panel, bottom and top sidewalls, and left sidewall and right sidewalls; said rear body further comprises first and second lower mounting portions and first and second upper mounting portions; said first and second lower mounting portions are removably engaged with said first and second lower fasteners, respectively, of said front body; said first and second upper mounting portions are removably engaged with said first and second upper fasteners, respectively, of said front body; said right side wall of said rear body further comprising lower and upper mounting portions; said rear panel of said body further comprising first and second lower mounting portions and first and second upper mounting portions; a remote control support removably engaged with said rear body; said remote control support comprising a base and first and second fasteners extending from said base; said first and second fasteners of said remote control support are removably engaged with said upper and lower mounting portions, respectively, of said right sidewall of said rear body; and an accessory support removably engaged with said rear panel of said rear body; said accessory support comprising a base, first and second lower fasteners, and first and second upper fasteners; said first and second lower fasteners are removably engaged with said first and second lower mounting portions of said rear panel; and said first and second upper fasteners are removably engaged with said first and second upper mounting portions, respectively, of said rear panel.
 2. The case of claim 1, further comprising a slip cover adapted to substantially cover the base stand of the television.
 3. The case of claim 2, wherein said slip cover comprises an access cover to allow installation and removal of said slip cover with the base stand.
 4. The case of claim 3, wherein said first and second lower fasteners of said front body are flexible snap tabs.
 5. The case of claim 4, wherein said first and second upper fasteners of said front body are flexible snap tabs.
 6. The case of claim 5, wherein said first and second lower fasteners of said accessory support are adapted to engage with said first and second lower mounting portions of said rear panel.
 7. The case of claim 6, wherein said first and second upper fasteners of said accessory support are flexible snap tabs adapted to engage with said first and second upper mounting portions of said rear panel. 